t a little of the bacon fat from the big frying-pan,
and then dropped into it a slice of meat which he had kept hidden under
a towel.

"Venison, by all that's great!" shouted Hal as the meat began to sizzle
on the hot iron. "Why didn't you tell us you had venison, so that the
thought of it would have helped us up that pesky hill?"

"Tis the docthor's contribution to the joy av living," responded Pat,
deftly flipping the steak over to sear the other side. "But I mistrust
yez have eaten so much already thot 'tis not the loikes av yez will be
wanting more than maybe a wee bite. But never ye moind. 'Tis meself will
do justice to the docthor and his gift."

"Don't you believe it!" roared the three in unison.

The steak and the second johnny-cake were done together and were
finished together to the last scrap and crumb, and along with them went
hot chocolate. There was a general loosening of belts, and then Hal
broke the silence of contentment which had fallen on the little group.

"My tummy, oh, my tummy!
It has now another pain!
I wish that it were empty
That it might be filled again,"

said he, gazing mournfully into his empty plate.

"Them's my sentiments too," said Walter, when the laugh that followed
had subsided. "But any fellow who springs a thing like that has to pay
for it. I move that Hal wash the dishes. All in favor say aye."

Three ayes made the woods ring. "All opposed say no!"

Hal's "No!" was shouted at the top of his lungs.

"'Tis a vote," declared Walter. "Mr. Harrison will now attend to his
duties and carry out the action of this assembly."

After the dishes were out of the way Pat built a huge fire with three
great backlogs one above another and slanting back to keep them from
rolling down. They were held in place by braces at the back. In front
of these smaller logs were piled, the backlogs reflecting the heat
forward into the lean-to. Then the blankets were spread on the rough
beds, and with all their clothing on, including moccasins, four weary
young woodsmen turned in for the night.

Pat was asleep almost as soon as he touched the bed, and Hal and Upton
were not far behind him. But to Sparrer, tired as he was, the novelty of
his surroundings was too great for immediate sleep, and for a long time
he lay staring out at the flickering flames and above them at the
brilliant stars, his active imagination keyed to a high pitch. It was
like fairy-land to him. Nothing seemed